Butch Jones' offensive style will work well in the SEC, once Jones brings in enough talent to run with Alabama, LSU, Florida and others on an even plane. For Jones and Tennessee, a proven offensive style still needs the right sort of personnel to work effectively in the nation's toughest conference.

How will Tommy Tuberville's SEC style play in the American Athletic Conference? One could also make the case that Tuberville's offensive vision has changed since Auburn, due to his forgettable three-year turn at Texas Tech – home of one of college football's more wide-open offensive philosophies. In a sense, UC's offense could blend its recent past with a taste of Tech's passing game and a touch of Tuberville's pro-style roots, adding another series of wrinkles to one of the league's most consistently prolific attacks.

But Tuberville wasn't hired for his offense, of course, nor for his ability to create hard-nosed, tough-minded defenses – with his stint in Lubbock notwithstanding. Tuberville was a coup for UC because of his experience, from Mississippi to Auburn through Texas Tech, and landing a coach of his magnitude gives UC a huge boost at this crucial period in the program's history.

Then there's this defense, which is weak where it counts: up the middle. Can UC survive if it can't get adequate run support at tackle and linebacker – better yet, can its tackles demand enough attention for UC to get the necessary production out of its three very strong ends? Of these concerns, none loom larger than Legaux at quarterback. Obviously, UC will need to maintain its offensive excellence to win the Big East crown. For now, it's these issues that make the Bearcats the third-best team in the conference.

2012 RECAP

— In a nutshell: There was nothing overly impressive about the 10 wins, even if double-digit wins in itself is an impressive accomplishment. The Bearcats beat only one opponent with more than seven wins, Syracuse, and beat only four bowl teams: Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, the Orange and Duke – the latter in the Belk Bowl. But this ignores just how close UC came to perfection, dropping games to Toledo (29-23), Louisville (34-31 in overtime) and Rutgers (10-3) by a combined 16 points. What happened in these three defeats? The offense stayed at home for the loss to the Scarlet Knights, gaining a season-low 341 yards and scoring only three points, tying the program's lowest single-game output since 2006. The Bearcats' turnovers and inept coverage teams allowed Toledo to score 29 points without a single offensive touchdown. Meanwhile, UC held leads of 17-7 and 24-14 against the Cardinals only to lose in overtime.

— High point: While the Hokies were down, the Bearcats' 27-24 win against Virginia Tech gave this team some much-deserved national recognition during non-conference play. The Bearcats would also rebound from a few painful losses to notch two multiple-game winning streaks against Big East competition.

— Low point: The loss to Louisville. The loss still stings for many of UC's team leaders, perhaps supplying the added boost of motivation needed to weather the coaching change and come out firing in late August.

— Tidbit: UC has won at least 10 games in five of the past six years. In comparison, the remaining nine members of the American Athletic Conference have combined for 10 seasons with double-digit wins during the last decade: Louisville, UCF and Houston have three, and Rutgers has one. Of course, UCF and Houston's years with 10 or more wins came as members of Conference USA.

— Tidbit (defense edition): Last year's defense was Cincinnati's best in more than three decades and, one could say, one of the best in program history. The Bearcats allowed 18.46 points per game, a program-low since 1981, when UC allowed 17.0 points per game. Last year's team allowed only 26 touchdowns, the second-fewest in the Big East, and finished second in the league in interceptions and sacks.

— Tommy Tuberville (Southern Arkansas '76), entering his first season. He brings to Cincinnati a 130-77 career record compiled at three different FBS stops: Mississippi (25-20 from 1995-98), Auburn (85-40 from 1999-2008) and Texas Tech (20-17 from 2010-12). Few coaches nationally can match the breadth of Tuberville's experience, nor his ability, when motivated, to remake a sluggish program into one consistently ranked among the nation's elite. This was the case at Auburn, at least – because things didn't go well at Texas Tech, obviously. Texas Tech marked the most disappointing turn in Tuberville's otherwise successful career. It simply never worked: Tuberville didn't fit Lubbock, nor vice versa, and neither party seemed broken up by Tuberville's decision to leave for UC after the end of last season.

Prior to arriving at Tech, Tuberville spent a decade at Auburn, where he served through the 2008 season before being relieved of his duties. The Tigers slipped to 5-7 in 2008, out of bowl contention, and lost convincingly to in-state rival Alabama. Without question, it was the idea that Auburn had ceded the state to Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide that eventually cost Tuberville his job. However, there is also no doubt that his relationship with the university was strained, and had been since the year prior to his greatest success, 2004. From 2000, his second year on the job, through 2008, Auburn tied for the SEC's best record at 47-17. Tuberville won at least eight games in seven of his 10 seasons with the Tigers, including 11 victories in 2006 and a perfect 13-0 2004 campaign, and led the program to three consecutive January bowl games. Though he was largely underestimated by both fans and his own administration early in his tenure – see the Bobby Petrino fiasco – Tuberville garnered praise for the his high level of success at Auburn, particularly from 2004-7 and, most importantly, against Alabama.

Prior to joining Auburn, Tuberville led Mississippi to a 25-20 record from 1995-98, including an 8-4 mark and a trip to the Motor City Bowl in 1997. As an assistant, Tuberville spent eight years at Miami (Fla.) (1986-93, the final season as defensive coordinator), helping the Hurricanes to an 87-9 mark and a pair of national titles. A one-year stint as the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M – the Aggies went 10-0-1 in 1994 – gave Tuberville a 97-9-1 career record as an FBS assistant. After a down period at Texas Tech, Tuberville has a great shot at remaking his national standing with the Bearcats.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

— Offense: Senior Brendon Kay so thoroughly outplayed fellow senior Munchie Legaux when inserted into the starting lineup late last season that there should be no quarterback competition during fall camp – though there will be a competition, if only as a byproduct of the coaching change. Kay stepped into the lineup in November and started the Bearcats' last five games, winning four, and gave this passing game the sort of production sorely lacking under Legaux's direction. During his five-game starting stint, Kay threw for 1,250 yards and 10 touchdowns, tossing only a pair of interceptions, and added 239 yards on the ground. What's not to like? The one drawback – and not just for Kay but the entire offensive personnel – is the subtle shift in philosophy, with Tuberville and new coordinator Eddie Gran stressing more of a run-based style rather than a straight continuation of the Jones-era system. To be honest, that's not a huge concern – Kay said at American media day that the scheme itself hasn't led to a learning curve, though UC's terminology has changed under the new staff. At worse, UC has Legaux in a reserve role. But this is Kay's offense, his team, and he's set to shine as a full-time starter.

Junior Ralph David Abernathy IV (366 yards) will have the opportunity to showcase his next-level speed in a larger role as one of UC's two or three replacements for George Winn, a 1,000-yard back as a senior. But don't look for Abernathy to fit as UC's every-down back, or for UC to even focus on one back rather than adopt a by-committee approach. What Abernathy will be is a toolkit back, one UC can use in several different packages – and in several different spots within this offense. In terms of a lead back, the Bearcats could turn to a holdover, whether one of sophomores Tion Green and Deionte Buckley, or turn the reins to one of two JUCO transfers, Hosey Williams and Rodriguez Moore. The best scenario, one that seems entirely doable, would have Williams or Moore headline the running game, spelled by Green, while Abernathy is left free to wreak havoc as a change-of-pace back and in the return game. While somewhat unproven, this group has wonderful potential.

The Bearcats' offensive line is the best in the American – and this without any debate. The entire group returns from a year ago, giving Tuberville, Gran and line coach Darren Hiller a top-notch foundation upon which to build this offense. How good is this group? Two starters, junior left tackle Eric Lefeld and senior left guard Austen Bujnoch, are the best at their position in the American. Another pair, senior center Dan Sprague and senior right guard Sam Longo, will earn all-conference honors. The one unknown – and this only in comparison to his four fellow starters – is sophomore right tackle Parker Ehinger, who needs only time and added experience to develop into a frontline starter. This line is elite.

— Defense: Although Tuberville has a 3-4 background, he and new defensive coordinator Art Kaufman will utilize a 4-3 base set with the Bearcats. This is great news: UC will stick with the same basic system as in the recent past, granting a very nice degree of continuity to this solid defense. There will be some changes, however, particularly in assignments along the defensive line. While the line is a concern – there are some personnel issues outside – where the Bearcats excel is at linebacker, a grouping that ranks firmly among the top two or three in the American. Can solid linebacker play buttress an in-progress front four? Without question. And the line could play beyond expectations should a few JUCO transfers step into the mix at end, helping UC survive losses to graduation.

The end spot needs the help. There'll be two new starters, with the decision on playing time likely not decided until Tuberville and the defensive staff take a long look at JUCO additions Terrell Hartsfield and Jerrell Jordan – the latter on campus in time for spring drills. I imagine both will play immediately, if not start the opener; for now, however, UC could turn to junior Brad Harrah or sophomores Silverberry Mouhon and Josh Posley while the two midterm arrivals work into FBS form. Obviously, Kaufman needs both newcomers to step right into some sort of role in the rotation. While the end spot is a worry, UC has a high degree of returning experience inside. In addition to returning starters Jordan Stepp (36 tackles) and Cam Beard (30 tackles, 5.0 for loss), UC brings back seniors Adam Dempsey and Mitch Meador, sophomore Brandon Mitchell and redshirt freshman Alex Pace; in addition, UC could very well start Marshall transfer Marques Aiken. The interior of the line needs to gain some comfort in the slightly altered scheme, but this degree of experience is fairly rare.

UC's linebackers are terrific. Much like Kay, who gained a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA, senior middle linebacker Greg Blair (138 tackles) returns for an added season after the former JUCO transfer missed nearly all of 2011 due to injury. Blair is – here comes an understatement – one of the best linebackers in the American; he's also one of the league's top players regardless of position, not to mention a heavy favorite for conference defensive player of the year honors. He's joined on the strong side by junior Nick Temple (54 tackles), a disruptive if occasionally inconsistent presence on the outside, while former Florida State transfer Jeff Luc ascends to a starting role on the weak side. How good is Luc? Good enough to play anywhere – and good enough to be an all-conference pick as a first-time starter. Blair is the unquestioned leader, a sideline-to-sideline rover with elite ball-sniffing skills; Luc, however, might be a breakout star. Very rarely do you see 250-pound weak side linebackers with this degree of athleticism.

There's a changing of the guard in the secondary, where UC must replace two starters and several reserves off a group that gave up chunks of yards but stiffened in crunch time, limiting opponents to only 13 passing touchdowns despite finishing 91th nationally in yards allowed per game. One of the two returning starters, senior free safety Arryn Chenault (49 tackles, 3 interceptions), will need to occupy a leadership role within this reworked back end. That's a key development, as is senior Devan Drane's (43 tackles) growth into the Bearcats' stopper at cornerback. Drane will be joined at cornerback by sophomores Trenier Orr and Leviticus Payne and junior Darren Dotson, the latter one of three JUCO transfers set for the defensive backfield. While UC lacks optimal experience at cornerback, you can't ignore the numbers: Drane's a returning starter, junior Adrian Witty has played major minutes, Payne and Orr hold promise and Dotson has right-now starting ability, so the Bearcats have options. The bigger concern is safety play, as Chenault is currently joined n the two-deep by sophomore Kevin Brown and redshirt freshmen Marcus Foster and Andre Jones.

— Special teams: Junior Tony Miliano could conceivably work as UC's starting kicker and punter, though that's only if the staff feels less than confident in junior John Lloyd's ability to handle the punting job. As with other potential dual-duty specialists, Miliano might be best served sticking to a place-kicking role. Any return team headlined by Abernathy will be special, especially if McClung continues to find success returning punts. To improve upon last year's middling performance across the board, UC must sew up its bouts with ineffectiveness in coverage and protection.

POSITION(S) TO WATCH

— Wide receiver: The Bearcats' biggest hole is at tight end, where the offense must replace a first-team all-conference pick in tight end Travis Kelce – likely the best tight end in school history. UC also loses Kenbrell Thompkins and Damon Julian, meaning only one of last year's top four targets, senior Anthony McClung (34 receptions for 539 yards), returns in 2013. This is a bit of a concern, but consider: UC will stress the run more so than in the recent past, so what this offense really needs isn't a clear leader – a 1,000-yard receiver – but rather a rotation of five or six options with varied skill sets, with at least two receivers capable of stretching the field. When it comes to the latter quality, keep an eye on junior Alex Chisum and sophomore Chris Moore, two projected contributors with the speed to draw attention downfield. Both have the ability to be frontline starters in the American; unfortunately, it's safe to say that McClung is the only receiver with any degree of past production. The rest of the depth chart is unproven, not to mention young: UC will call on many freshmen and sophomores, options like Nate Cole, Max Morrison and Shaq Washington, and hope that each is ready for a huge role in this system. Senior Blake Annen, UC's replacement for Kelce, brings three career receptions into his final season. So the receiver corps is a concern, right? Yeah, I'd buy that. But I'd also say that the potential is there for some explosiveness in the passing game, especially given how well McClung and Moore played after Kay took over at quarterback during the second half of last season. What the Bearcats must get – and this above all – is field-stretching performances from receivers like Chisum.

GAME(S) TO WATCH

— Louisville: There's a pretty good chance Cincinnati will be within a game of the Cardinals heading into the season finale – a game played at home, by the way. Can you imagine the happy faces in the American home office if the Bearcats knock off undefeated Louisville in early December? It's a game Bearcats' players have circled for months, knowing they gave last year's overtime loss away with uncharacteristically sloppy play during the second half. UC's season will be defined by its play in November, when it ramps up the degree of difficulty to take on SMU, Rutgers, Houston and Louisville. What about September and October? It's a cakewalk.

SEASON BREAKDOWN & PREDICTION

— In a nutshell: If only every team undergoing a coaching change could be so fortunate. I'm not speaking solely of Tuberville, though he's a great hire for UC, but rather the Bearcats' lovely two-month stretch to open the 2013 season. Will Cincinnati lose before November? I'd think so, perhaps dropping one winnable game in September or October, but there's little doubt in my mind that UC heads into the season-defining final month at no worse than 6-2 (and likely 7-1), leaving the possibility that the finale against Louisville decides the American championship. The Bearcats are going to cruise through the year's first two months.

Not that it'll always be pretty. There are some personnel issues, for one. UC needs to locate a top-line back to head what should be a by-committee backfield, leaving Abernathy room to operate as a game-changing secondary option. The receiver corps has the talent to excel but lacks any heightened degree of experience; McClung will make plays, but UC really needs one of the younger options to step up and help stretch the field. Defensively, the Bearcats' biggest issue should be at end, where there's set to be a steep decline in production – unless the JUCO transfers or the sophomores play above expectations. There's also the transition inherent to any coaching change, even when switching to this sort of experienced staff. This isn't a perfect team, though it's one more than capable of finding a high degree of success against this schedule.

Whether UC ends up inside a national ranking depends on how well it handles the final month. November hands the Bearcats their lone chance to shine nationally: Cincinnati must take advantage of the opportunity, beating solid-to-strong American teams after two months spent winning games in the shadows of an easy schedule. The bad news? Because of some personnel issues – as noted above – I'm a little hesitant to plug UC as anything more than one of the top two or three teams in the American, albeit one that could end the year inside the top 25 due to the easy schedule. The good news? I have little doubt that UC will be better in November than September, so it'd be foolish to ignore the possibility that the Bearcats end up shocking heavily favored Louisville to win the American and reach the BCS. This team has that potential.

— Dream season: Cincinnati loses a stunner to Illinois in September but wins the rest, beating Louisville in early December to take home the American and earn a BCS berth.

— Nightmare season: The Bearcats are 4-4 heading into November, which is inexcusable, and go 1-3 against SMU, Rutgers, Houston and the Cardinals.

— All-name team nominee: CB Leviticus Payne.

UP NEXT

— Who is No. 33? This program has three fewer wins since 2010 as it had from during a decade-long span from 1996-2005.

125: Georgia State - Georgia State joins the Sun Belt Conference as the newest member of the Football Bowl Subdivision. The team is led by former Indiana State coach Trent Miles, who knows a thing or two about massive rebuilding projects, but the Panthers are several years away from competing for bowl eligibility. Jim Avelis, AP

124: Massachusetts - After going 1-11 in 2012, its first season in the Football Bowl Subdivision, UMass enters year two under Charley Molnar with little hope of any major improvement against another difficult schedule. The Minutemen are just a hair behind Akron for last place in the Mid-American Conference East Division. Mark L. Baer, USA TODAY Sports

123: Idaho - After being part of the since-disintegrated Western Athletic Conference, the Vandals will spend one season as a Football Bowl Subdivision independent before joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2014. It won’t be pretty: Idaho will play Northern Illinois, Fresno State, Mississippi and Florida State, among others. Kyle Mills, AP

122: South Alabama - The Jaguars went 2-11 as first-year members of the Sun Belt Conference in 2012, and that record won’t improve dramatically unless the offense fixes the missteps that defined last season. While coach Joey Jones has assembled some talent, South Alabama is still too inexperienced to be a real threat for more than three or four wins. Mark Dolejs, USA TODAY Sports

121: New Mexico State. Previous coach DeWayne Walker left on his own accord after compiling a 10-40 record from 2009-2012, taking an assistant position with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 24, less than two weeks before national signing day. Walker's replacement, Doug Martin, has two things Walker did not when he took over late in 2008: FBS coaching experience (seven seasons at Kent State) and experience in Las Cruces (2011 as the Aggies' offensive coordinator). Jim Avelis, AP

120: Akron - The Zips proved they could move the football last season, the program’s first under former Auburn coach Terry Bowden, but having a stronger offense didn’t prevent Akron from going 0-11 against Football Bowl Subdivision opposition. A year later, Akron remains far too undermanned to make any waves in the Mid-American Conference. Robert Mayer, USA TODAY Sports

119: Texas at San Antonio - The youngest program in college football, UTSA quickly moved from the Sun Belt Conference to Conference USA. The issue with such rapid growth is that it will force the Roadrunners to play beyond their years, and this team seems too inexperienced to handle the increased level of competition found in Conference USA. Eric Gay, Associated Press

118: Florida International - After spending several years building to the point where it could reach back-to-back bowl games, as Florida International did from 2010-11, FIU is back to square one under new coach Ron Turner. The Golden Panthers are entering the first stage of what should be a long and painful rebuilding project. Robert Mayer, USA TODAY Sports

117: Eastern Michigan - Eastern Michigan is again out to prove its 6-6 finish in 2011 – the program’s lone six-win season since 1995 – was not a fluke. That seemed to be the case last fall, when the Eagles stumbled back to 2-10, the program’s third 10-loss season in four tries under coach Ron English. Confidence is not high in Ypsilanti. Rob Christy, USA TODAY Sports

116: Memphis - The Tigers made some strides last season, winning four games under coach Justin Fuente, but will be tested by the tougher level of competition in the American Athletic Conference. While the program has clearly improved, 2013 should again find Memphis at the bottom of the conference standings. Nelson Chenault, USA TODAY Sports

115: Colorado - It can only get better than it was a year ago, if only because things couldn’t possibly get worse. Colorado begins a new era under former San Jose State coach Mike MacIntyre with full knowledge of the difficult road that lies ahead. At the very least, CU knows it is now pointed in the right direction. David Zalubowski, AP

114: UNLV. It's been 13 years since UNLV posted a winning season. The program is mired in a stretch of five seasons of 10 or more losses in the past seven years, with the last three coming under coach Bobby Hauck. Bradley Leeb, USA TODAY Sports

113: North Texas leaves the Sun Belt Conference to join Conference USA in 2013. Will a change in scenery lead to a change in the standings? The Mean Green have been better under coach Dan McCarney, winning nine games over the last two seasons, but this team won’t go anywhere unless it can find some much-needed explosiveness on offense. Scott Sewell, USA TODAY Sports

112: After nine seasons under Mike Price, UTEP welcomes back former assistant Sean Kugler as its new coach in 2013. Kugler has some weapons to work with, including a high-profile addition in Texas A,M transfer Jameill Showers at quarterback, but it will take time for him to reverse UTEP’s losing ways. Rudy Gutierrez, AP

111: Florida Atlantic -- The team's quest to bolster its fundraising coffers by offering up the naming rights to its new stadium hit a snag after the university student body and surrounding community quickly soured on a deal with GEO Group, a for-profit prison operator with a history of fines, investigations and violations. Photo courtesy of Florida Atlantic University

110: Illinois -- Bruised and battered Illinois lacks confidence, as one might expect after the Illini won only a single game against Football Bowl Subdivision opposition during the program's first season under former Toledo coach Tim Beckman. Illinois also lacks an offense, a defense and an identity. Rudy Gutierrez, AP

108: New Mexico -- Four wins is cause for celebration at New Mexico, which went 3-33 from 2009-11 but finished 4-9 in 2012, its first season under former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie. The Lobos may be stuck in neutral while Davie and his staff add talent and depth to a depleted roster, likely leading to another season with four or fewer wins, but the program has found a run-first formula to hang with stronger opponents during Mountain West Conference play. USA TODAY Sports

107: Colorado State -- This team enters year two of its rebuilding process under coach Jim McElwain, who learned a thing or two about building a winner as the former offensive coordinator under Nick Saban at Alabama. The Rams’ issues in 2013 circle around an offense that remains in flux while it acclimates itself into McElwain’s pro-style scheme. A tough schedule will send CSU to another losing season. USA TODAY Sports

106: Army. Army exceeded expectations once, in 2010, creating both a remarkably pleasing individual season while increasing the belief that the Cadets and coach Rich Ellerson could do so again. Unfortunately, Army has since slid back to successive losing seasons, with last year ending in a nightmare: Trailing by four points with little more than a minute left, the Cadets fumbled the ball away deep inside Navy territory to again lose to their academy rival. Jim Avelis, AP

105: Hawaii -- Former USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow has painfully reworked Hawaii’s offense away from a pass-happy system into his pro-style scheme. Results thus far have been decidedly mixed. For now, the Rainbow Warriors will continue to lean on a defense with some speed and talent on the edge while the offense finds its form with a new starting quarterback, junior Taylor Graham. Hawaii is at least one full season away from competing for a bowl bid. USA TODAY Sports

104: Texas State -- The Bobcats won four games last fall, the program’s first as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision. This season finds Texas State in the Sun Belt Conference, an offensively prolific league that will test one of the nation’s worst defenses. But the Bobcats are very hopeful that FBS transfers like D.J. Yendrey and Mike Orakpo can give this defense some much-needed experience, production and aggressiveness. L. Scott Mann AP

103: Miami (Ohio) -- Miami has lost at least eight games in four of the last seasons and has been outscored in each of the last seven seasons, two facts that illustrate the RedHawks’ current rut. Will things change in 2013? Third-year coach Don Treadwell’s group faces holes at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, so the defense will need to carry the load against a fairly easy schedule should Miami look to reach the postseason. USA TODAY Sports

102: Central Michigan -- The Chippewas reached a bowl game last season by beating the bad teams on the schedule. Despite winning seven games, the gap between Central Michigan and MAC frontrunners like Northern Illinois, Toledo and Ball State remained immense. In terms of personnel, CMU needs to replace a multiple-year starter at quarterback and left tackle Eric Fisher, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. USA TODAY Sports

101: Kentucky -- Welcome to the new era of Kentucky football, revel in this new-car smell, because things have changed: Mark Stoops, the former defensive coordinator at Florida State, has altered the very way Kentucky views itself in the SEC pecking order. Not to mention Kentucky's own pecking order: The basketball team struggled this year, so there might be a power void at the top. Kentucky drew 50,831 fans to its spring game, or more than the Wildcats drew for any two home games from October on, judging by the pictures. Kentucky has reeled in more four-star recruits since December than at any point over the previous decade – combined, or just about. USA TODAY Sports

100: Boston College -- The Eagles have sat and watched as their consistency, a hallmark of the program for the first decade of the new millennium, has crumbled to become nonexistent. New Boston College coach Steve Addazio's first task will be remaking the Eagles' broken sense of self-worth. If not the easiest first step, at least Addazio can tackle the task without worrying about teams like USC, Florida State and Clemson, three of Boston College's opponents over the first half of 2013. Wins and losses matter less than player development. Jim Cowser, USA TODAY Sports

99: SMU -- Last year's team was better than its 7-6 record might indicate, particularly in terms of personnel. The Mustangs had a five-star transfer from Texas at quarterback, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher in the backfield, a 1,000-yard receiver, a strong defensive line, an outstanding linebacker corps and a ball-hawking secondary. Yet the Mustangs still failed to beat any opponent of consequence outside of Tulsa, going 1-5 during the regular season against eventual bowl teams. Jim Cowser, USA TODAY Sports

98: Western Michigan -- To properly understand where P.J. Fleck is coming from you need to sit down and watch him explain his new team's Nekton Mentality, Prefontaine Pace and Farmers' Alliance. These are things, real things, and to Fleck, they are what will separate Western Michigan from the rest of the MAC – actually, according to Fleck, they will ultimately separate the Broncos from the rest of college football. Marilyn Indahl, USA TODAY Sports

97: Troy -- Once a Sun Belt Conference power, Troy has ceded the top spot to conference rivals like Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Western Kentucky and Louisiana-Lafayette over the last two seasons. Getting back to the postseason might be difficult: Troy returns only seven starters, the second-fewest of any team in the country, and lacks depth on each side of the ball. Jim Brown, US Presswire

96: Kansas -- The opening season in the Charlie Weis era at Kansas went poorly, with a 1-11 mark and a last-place finish in the Big 12. The five-year plan enters year two now: will it be baby steps, befitting Kansas' recent run as the nation's worst automatic-qualifying program, or will the Jayhawks break through the ceiling and challenge for a bowl berth in the brutal Big 12? Mike DiNovo, US Presswire

95: California -- Jeff Tedford, who coached California for the previous 11 seasons, is gone. In his place, former Louisiana coach Sonny Dykes is the latest offensive innovator to take the reins of a Pac-12 program since 2009. What does this say about California, Dykes and the North? It says that offense is in vogue throughout the division, helping present the Pac-12 as the flip-side to the SEC's defense-first mentality. Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports

94: Rice -- Rice rode an explosive offense to a bowl game in 2012, defeating the Air Force Falcons in the Armed Forces Bowl. Can that explosive attack continue to help cover up a woeful defense (Rice has now allowed at least 48 points in a game 35 times since the start of the 2000 season) not only for this campaign, but beyond? Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports

No. 93: Washington State -- In their second year under coach Mike Leach, can the Cougars reverse their string of losing at least eight games in the last five seasons? Only one other Pac-12 school has suffered as many eight-loss seasons in a row: Oregon State lost eight or more games in each season from 1979-87. Allen Henry, USA TODAY Sports

No. 92: Connecticut -- As always, the Huskies are strong on defense but weak on offense. In the past six seasons, UConn quarterbacks have combined to throw 69 touchdowns against 72 interceptions while averaging 185.67 yards per game. Over the same span, the Huskies' defense has allowed 91 passing touchdowns against 97 interceptions while holding opposing quarterbacks to an average of 218.39 yards per game. David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports

No. 91: UAB -- The Blazers and second year head coach Garrick McGee are trending up, with young talent on both sides of the ball. However, despite their relatively weak conference, UAB looks to still be a year away from reaching a bowl game. Marvin Gentry, US Presswire

90: Wyoming -- The Cowboys have won 15 games in the past three years, with most coming in an eight-win finish in 2011. Three have come against Football Championship Subdivision competition. Three have come against Colorado State – a combined 10-26 since 2010. Of Wyoming's 15 wins since 2010, only three have come against winning teams: Toledo in 2010 and San Diego State and Air Force in 2011. Every other defeated opponent ended the season with seven or more losses. So what is Wyoming going to do when there are no more easy wins – when its MWC schedule is loaded with teams with realistic bowl hopes? Brendan Maloney, US PRESSWIRE

89: Purdue -- The Boilermakers have a new coach in Darrell Hazell, who won 11 games at Kent State last season with a unique system of steps that he is proud to call his own. In specific, Hazell's blueprint worked for Kent State. But his plan is universal: It'll work everywhere, whether we're talking Kent State, Purdue or Ohio State, should Hazell slide into the Buckeyes' plans at some point in the future. The Boilermakers will win with what they've got and feel good doing so. Just not from the start, perhaps. Byron Hetzler, USA TODAY Sports

88: Temple -- Temple went back into its past to nab a replacement for Boston College-bound Steve Addazio. It shied away from the years prior to 2006, when Al Golden stepped in and reversed the program's fate, and opted for one of Golden's chief lieutenants in ex-offensive coordinator Matt Rhule. Rhule's return spells a move back to Temple's recent glory days, when the offense was pro-style, the defense aggressive and the team worked as one cohesive unit. Those were good times. Rhule will bring 'em back. Howard Smith, USA TODAY Sports

87: Iowa State -- Never before has Iowa State football had this level of fan support. What's not to like? The fan base admires the work coach Paul Rhoads and his staff have put into creating a consistent Big 12 presence, albeit one that typically sneaks into bowl play with six wins, hovering along the league's bottom third. The typically undermanned Cyclones are overachievers, basically. But here's a question: Once you overachieve once, twice, three times, aren't you simply achieving? Peter G. Aiken, USA TODAY Sports

86: Duke -- Duke is looking to return to bowl play after winning six games in 2012. To do that and reach the postseason, Duke must find consistent play from new quarterback Anthony Boone. Duke will look to a more balanced offense to move the ball against ACC competition. Mark Dolejs, USA TODAY Sports

85: Kent State -- Led by electric running back Dri Archer, Kent State will try to stay at a high level of achievement after an 11-3 season despite losing their coach to Purdue in the offseason. Prior to last season, Kent State was the lone FBS program with roots in the 20th century with a career winning percentage below .400 – it stood at .388, to be precise. Prior to last season, Kent State had not won more than six games since 1987. Prior to last season, Kent State was mired in a run of 32 non-winning seasons in 34 years. Then, last season, The Flashes came within a whisper of the Bowl Championship Series, believe it or not, and would have been the underdog story to end all underdog stories. Crystal LoGiudice, USA TODAY Sports

84: Pittsburgh --Pitt's defense is good enough to carry this team. But to say that the Panthers can win six or more games without a strong offense would be misleading – and this offense has some major holes to address before getting started against Florida State in early September. Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports

83: Arkansas -- After a disastrous 2012 campaign following the summer departure of Bobby Petrino, the once-proud Razorbacks will try to get back in to bowl contention in the stacked Southeastern Conference. Coach Bret Bielema will bring a taste of the Big Ten to the SEC, turning Arkansas' finesse style into a punishing, physical team worthy of rolling in the mud with perennial powers like Alabama, Florida and LSU. Jeff Blake, USA TODAY Sports

82: Southern Mississippi -- After an 0-12 season, the Golden Eagles had no choice but to dismiss their coach and hire former Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Todd Monken to replace him. Like Larry Fedora before him, brings sterling offensive credentials to Hattiesburg. But unlike Johnson, who took over a 12-win team, Monken inherits a winless group struggling to relocate its confidence. USM can take some solace in the fact it can't get any worse. Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports

81: Syracuse - New coach Scott Shafer still has his hands full tutoring a fairly inexperienced team – the Orange return only 11 starters – in a new league, a more competitive ACC. Rich Barnes, USA TODAY Sports

80: South Florida -- Coming off a 3-9 season, USF hired Willie Taggart as head coach. South Florida is one of five American Athletic Conference holdovers from the old Big East, not counting Temple, which joined the Big East as the league entered its death throes in 2012. Of the five, USF joins Rutgers as the lone programs to have not reached the Bowl Championship Series. Daniel Wallace, AP

79: Middle Tennessee State --What team shows up in 2013? Perhaps the eight-win squad of 2012, or the 10-win team of 2009, or the bowl team of 2010. Or will it be the 10-loss team of 2011, as disappointing a non-automatically qualifying group in the country? Kevin Liles, USA TODAY Sports

78: Virginia --UVa has plus-talent at quarterback, running back, receiver and all throughout the defense, with the only issue for 2013 being that nearly every meaningful contributor stands a season away from a breakthrough. Kevin Liles, USA TODAY Sports

77: Minnesota --Think about this: Every year, Minnesota's quest for bowl eligibility goes through the Wolverines, Cornhuskers, Spartans, Wildcats and Hawkeyes – and sometimes, that quintet will be joined by Leaders Division teams like Wisconsin and Penn State. That'll happen sometimes. Like in 2013, for example. Jesse Johnson, USA TODAY Sports

75: Western Kentucky --There's a blindingly bright future at WKU, even if it's hard to predict just how long Petrino remains with the program before a win-hungry power comes calling. To get to the next level, however, Petrino needs to develop personnel on offense to fit his foolproof system. Nathan Morgan/Daily News, AP

74: Buffalo -- Coach Jeff Quinn has done a great job developing talent, as Buffalo won three of its last four games. The arrow is pointing up for this squad, which could reach a bowl game this year. The running game will continue to go through Branden Oliver (pictured), one of the MAC's best backs. Nathan Morgan/Daily News, AP

73. Indiana - The Hoosiers enter this season a confident group, having won four games under Kevin Wilson last fall. He has developed the team's offense into one of the most potent in the Big Ten. To take the next step, Indiana will need to build more depth on the defensive side. Nathan Morgan/Daily News, AP

72. Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons are loaded with seniors and several underclassmen set for larger roles. They should challenge for six wins with coach Jim Grobe thanks to a strong offense, which will be more run-based, and increased depth. Chuck Burton, AP

71. Houston: After 17 seasons with Conference USA, Houston joins the American. It hopes to rejoin the postseason after going 5-7 last season. Dave Piland must step up at quarterback and the defensive-line interior needs to be rebuilt. Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports

70. San Jose State: The Spartans won the Military Bowl last season, finishing an impressive campaign in which they went 11-2 and earned a national ranking in both polls. Even with one of the nation's best quarterbacks in David Fales (No.1), new coach Ron Caragher and his staff has their hands full fixing the defense. Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports

69. Iowa: The Hawkeyes look to rebound after going 4-8 a season ago. Coach Kirk Ferentz will have to find a new quarterback to replace replace James Vandenberg. Their postseason hopes will ride on a strong backfield and and offensive line. Charlie Neibergall, AP

67. Air Force: Are there negative signs? I'd say so. But are they reasons for concern? No, not really. Though Air Force has been trending downward the last two years – 13-13 combined since the start of the 2011 season – the Falcons have, to be fair, lost four games by single digits. It was only two years ago that Air Force scored 454 points, the fourth-highest total in school history – so the offense isn't broken. Likewise, the Falcons' 2011 defense ranked third in the Mountain West Conference in yards allowed per game. So what happened last season? The Falcons struggled. It happens. Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports

66. Maryland: The Terps enter Year 3 under Randy Edsall with serious bowl expectations. Maryland will have increased depth and will land markedly improved production at quarterback, with C.J. Brown (pictured) healthy. To ensure six wins, Maryland must address some personnel issues on the defensive side of the ball Patrick Semansky, AP

65. Louisiana-Monroe: ULM had its first breakthrough as a member of the FBS last season, winning eight games. The Warhawks return 17 starters altogether, with eight on offense (including dual-threat QB Kolton Browning) and nine on defense. ULM is easily one of the top three teams in the Sun Belt Conference and a bowl favorite. Patrick Semansky, AP

64. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs have reached three bowl games in a row under coach Dan Mullen. Last season ended poorly for the Bulldogs, with four losses in five games after a 7-0 start. To rebound, MSU needs to land more consistent quarterback play and replace two cornerbacks Patrick Semansky, AP

63. Louisiana Tech: After a nine win season that amazingly did not earn them a postseason bid, Louisiana Tech is aiming to keep up their success from last season behind a truly explosive offense. In order to get a BCS bid, which is a possibility if they play their cards right, they must hold serve against weak WAC opponents. Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports

62. Tennessee: Tennessee was a few first downs, a third-down conversion, a fourth-down stop, a two-point conversion and an errant pass away from reaching bowl eligibility last fall, the program's third year under ex-coach Derek Dooley. But now Dooley is gone after he failed to make a Bowl game, and in his stead is hot new coach Butch Jones. Randy Sartin, USA TODAY Sports

61. Utah: Utah didn't bite off more than it could chew in joining the Pac-12, though the record might suggest otherwise: After going 33-6 in its final three years in the Mountain West Conference, Utah has slid to 13-12 in its new league – finishing outside of bowl eligibility last fall, a program-first since the pre-Urban Meyer period. The Utes have moved away from their winning tradition somewhat in recent years, but are looking to get back there on the back of a good offense. Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports

60. Navy: Okay, so the Midshipmen beat Army again last season. There's a word for Navy's run of success in the chase for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy: Domination. The Midshipmen have won eight of the past 10 trophies, losing out to Air Force in 2010 and 2011. Last season's sweep – wins against both Army and Air Force – marked the program's eighth double-dip since 2003. But the gap among the armed forces academies might be closing pretty quickly. Just don't tell these Midshipmen. Danny Wild, USA TODAY Sports

59: Utah State: Utah State came this close to a perfect regular season in 2012, as a missed field goal against BYU sunk their BCS chances. They lost their two games by a combined five points. Then there are the 11 wins, eight coming by 22 or more points. USU was quite easily one of college football's best teams of 2012, one separated from greater glory by only the slimmest of margins. Douglas C. Pizac, USA TODAY Sports

58. Missouri: The Tigers really struggled in their first season in the SEC, not making a bowl game for the first time since 2004. That's to be expected moving in to the most powerful conference in college football if you don't have a Heisman-winning quarterback, so we can cut Mizzou some slack. They will show improvement this season. Dak Dillon, USA TODAY Sports

57. West Virginia: West Virginia looks for a vastly improved defense to team with an offense that should remain among the Big 12's best despite changes at quarterback, wide receiver and offensive guard. The Mountaineers started 5-0 in 2012, rising as high as No. 4 in the polls, before losing six of eight to end the season. Rob Christy, USA TODAY Sports

56. Auburn - After a disastrous 3-9 (0-8 SEC) season, Auburn finally fired Gene Chizik and brought former offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn in to head the program. It was an amazing fall for the Tigers, who won a national championship and went undefeated in 2010-11. Now, Auburn must start virtually from scratch, but have brought in some talented recruits that may help ease the transition. John Reed, USA TODAY Sports

55. Arkansas State - The Red Wolves won the GoDaddy.com Bowl last year, but now have their fourth new head coach in the last four seasons. But ASU is at the front of the Sun Belt conference and should continue to make the postseason and win games once they get there. Crystal LoGiudice, USA TODAY Sports

54. Rutgers: Give Rutgers coach Kyle Flood credit for many things, including his nine-win debut as Greg Schiano's replacement, but let's focus on one achievement in particular: Flood and Rutgers have recruited as well as any team in the Big East – and the American Athletic Conference, now that it's 2013. They're not Louisville in terms of quality, but the Scarlet Knights will almost certainly make a bowl game. Douglas Jones, USA TODAY Sports

53. North Carolina State: After a seven-win season, the Wolfpack has a new coach in former Northern Illinois head man Dave Doeren. After some good results and bad results over the tenure of Tom O'Brien, the pack is ready to move away from average overall results and try and move to the top of the ACC. Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports

52. Bowling Green. Bowling Green: The Falcons’ defense will remain the best in the Mid-American Conference despite losing two all-conference starters. Bowling Green’s biggest concern is quarterback play, where senior Matt Schilz’s disappointing 2012 season has led coach Dave Clawson to create a quarterback competition. If the offense doesn’t improve, Bowling Green could top out at seven wins and a second-place finish in the East Division. USA TODAY Sports

51. Arizona: After a tremendous debut, coach Rich Rodriguez will need to cobble together an offense without last year’s starting quarterback and top receiver. While the offensive line and running game remain strong, Arizona’s defense is not to the point where it can slow down many opponents during Pac-12 play. The Wildcats will return to the postseason, but the team might struggle in September as it transitions to a new cast on offense. USA TODAY Sports